Simone A. Browne

Associate Professor —
Ph.D.,
University of Toronto

Contact

Biography

Simone Browne began her faculty position in the Department of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin in 2007. She is Associate Professor in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies. She teaches and researches surveillance studies and black diaspora studies.

Her first book, Dark Matters: On the Surveillance of Blackness, examines surveillance with a focus on transatlantic slavery, biometric technologies, branding, airports and creative texts.

She is an Executive Board member of HASTAC. She is also a member of Deep Lab, a feminist collaborative composed of artists, engineers, hackers, writers, and theorists. Along with Katherine McKittrick and Deborah Cowen she is co-editor of Errantries, a new series published by Duke University Press.

Currently reading Spatializing Blackness: Architectures of Confinement and Black Masculinity in Chicago by Rashad Shabazz (link)

Courses

AFR 322D • Race And The Digital

In this interdisciplinary course students will examine race and digital technologies. Attention will be placed on forms of popular culture, social media, black cultural production and political action. Students will become more skilled in written communication and expression, reading, critical thinking, oral expression, and visual expression. Students will create and host a Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon, produce sound autobiographies using SoundCloud, annotate text using hypothes.is, and create web-ready research essays to be published online using ReadyMag.

AFR 372C • Race/Gender/Surveillance

Drawing from social science readings, science fiction (Gattaca, THX-1138, Ex-Machina, Grounded), documentaries, and popular media (24, South Park, Orange is the New Black, The Bachelor, Cheaters), this course introduces students to the emerging field of Surveillance Studies.

Assignments: Film Review, In-class Quizzes, Current Event Analysis, Take-Home Final Exam, and Research Teams produce a digital magazine on “Surveillance”. This course is cross-listed with Women and Gender Studies, and Sociology. Cultural Diversity Flag. Ethics and Leadership Flag.

AFR 372C • Race/Gender/Surveillance

Race, Gender and Surveillance will provide an overview of theories in the emerging field of Surveillance Studies, with a focus on race and gender. We will examine transformations in social control and the distributions of power in U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on populations within the African diaspora. As such, this is a Black Studies course. Course topics include: the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons and punishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television; social media; sports; airports; biometrics and drones. Students will be encouraged to develop critical reading and analytical skills. Through the use of films, videos and other visual media students will be challenged to better understand how surveillance practices inform modern life.

Required Texts:

John Gilliom and Torin Monahan. 2013. SuperVision: An Introduction to the Surveillance Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Dave Eggers. 2013. The Circle. New York: Random House

A course packet of all other required readings will be available for purchase at Speedway Printers.

Grading Breakdown:

Participation, In-class Assignments and Quizzes: 10%

Film Review 10%

Mid-Term Test: 25%

Current Event Analysis: 10%

Research Project: 20%

Final Test: 25%

AFR 322D • Race And The Digital

In this interdisciplinary course students will examine race and digital technologies. Attention will be placed on forms of popular culture, social media, black cultural production and political action. Students will become more skilled in written communication and expression, reading, critical thinking, oral expression, and visual expression. Students will create and host a Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon, produce sound autobiographies using SoundCloud, annotate text using hypothes.is, and create web-ready research essays to be published online using ReadyMag.

AFR 381 • Race And The Body

This course will engage with theories and research methodologies in the sociological study of the body, with a focus on race, racism, gender and sexualities. Emphasis will be placed on close reading of the assigned texts so that discussion can focus on key issues and debates concerning the body in contemporary society, including: the role of space and location; theories of the subject and the meaning of subjectivity; state formation and social control. Objectives

Through the completion of written assignments and active seminar participation and preparation, students will develop an understanding of the language and conceptual tools necessary to interrogate the practices through which we come to be variously raced, gendered and abled. Students will be encouraged to raise their research concerns in the seminar and we will actively contribute to each other’s questions of interest and research design.

AFR 372C • Race/Gender/Surveillance

Race, Gender and Surveillance will provide an overview of theories in the emerging field of Surveillance Studies, with a focus on race and gender. We will examine transformations in social control and the distributions of power in U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on populations within the African diaspora. As such, this is a Black Studies course. Course topics include: the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons and punishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television; social media; sports; airports; biometrics and drones. Students will be encouraged to develop critical reading and analytical skills. Through the use of films, videos and other visual media students will be challenged to better understand how surveillance practices inform modern life.

Required Texts:

John Gilliom and Torin Monahan. 2013. SuperVision: An Introduction to the Surveillance Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Dave Eggers. 2013. The Circle. New York: Random House

A course packet of all other required readings will be available for purchase at Speedway Printers.

Grading Breakdown:

Participation, In-class Assignments and Quizzes: 10%

Film Review 10%

Mid-Term Test: 25%

Current Event Analysis: 10%

Research Project: 20%

Final Test: 25%

AFR 322D • Race And The Digital

Review of theoretical developments in the sociological study of "race," including an examination of processes of racialization and cultural texts, in order to better understand the ways in which identities are socially produced. Attention will be placed on forms of popular culture, black cultural production, and political action to question how such practices are shaped by migrations within the African diaspora.

AFR 372C • Race/Gender/Surveillance

This course will provide an overview of theories in the emerging field of Surveillance Studies, with afocus on race and gender. We will examine transformations in social control and the distributions ofpower in U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on populations within the African diaspora. As such,this is a Black Studies course. Course topics include: the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons andpunishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television watching; social media; travel and stateborders; biometrics and the body.

Students will be encouraged to develop critical reading and analytical skills. Through the use of filmsand other visual media students will be challenged to better understand how surveillance practicesinform modern life.

Your participation grade will be based upon your informed participation and not solely on yourattendance. You are expected to contribute informed opinions based on a close reading of the coursematerials and engagement with the themes of the course. Sharing your personal opinions, whileimportant, will not solely constitute informed discussion.

Students who acquire six or more unexcused absences will receive a failing grade.

Grading:

A: 100-94

A-: 93-90

B+: 89-88

B: 87-83

B-: 82-80

C+ 79-78

C: 77-73

C-: 72-70

D+: 69-68

D: 67-63

D-: 62-60

F: 59-0

Your grade in this course will be based on:

Participation, Attendance &In-class Assignments 10%

Everyday Surveillance Assignment 15%

Film Review 15%

Mid-Term Test: 20%

Social Media Project: 20%

Final Test 20%

Final grades will be determined on the basis of the above rubric. To ensure fairness, all numbers are absolute, and will not be rounded up or down at any stage. Thus a B- will be inclusive of all scores of 80.000 through 83.999. The University does not recognize the grade of A+.

Attendance and Informed Participation

Students who acquire six or more unexcused absences will receive a failing grade.

Please note that this is an upper level undergraduate seminar and your success in this course depends on close reading and engagement with the texts (readings, films, audio recordings, videoclips, video games and weblinks posted to Blackboard), as well as active participation in class discussions. You will be responsible for checking the Blackboard course site regularly for additional texts and announcements.

Class participation will be based on attendance and meaningful participation in class discussions.

Meaningful participation is taken to be analytic engagement with the texts, not vague commentary or generalizations. You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the readings.

Over the course of the semester you will be ask to respond, in writing, to texts discussed during the lecture.

These assignments will form a part of your participation grade.

AFR 381 • Race And The Body

This course will engage with theories and research methodologies in the sociological study of the body, with a focus on race, racism, gender and sexualities. Emphasis will be placed on close reading of the assigned texts so that discussion can focus on key issues and debates concerning the body in contemporary society, including: the role of space and location; theories of the subject and the meaning of subjectivity; state formation and social control. Objectives

Through the completion of written assignments and active seminar participation and preparation, students will develop an understanding of the language and conceptual tools necessary to interrogate the practices through which we come to be variously raced, gendered and abled. Students will be encouraged to raise their research concerns in the seminar and we will actively contribute to each other’s questions of interest and research design.

AFR 372C • Race, Gender, And Surveillance

This course will provide an overview of theories in the emerging field of Surveillance Studies, with afocus on race and gender. We will examine transformations in social control and the distributions ofpower in U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on populations within the African diaspora. As such,this is a Black Studies course. Course topics include: the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons andpunishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television watching; social media; travel and stateborders; biometrics and the body.

Students will be encouraged to develop critical reading and analytical skills. Through the use of filmsand other visual media students will be challenged to better understand how surveillance practicesinform modern life.

Your participation grade will be based upon your informed participation and not solely on yourattendance. You are expected to contribute informed opinions based on a close reading of the coursematerials and engagement with the themes of the course. Sharing your personal opinions, whileimportant, will not solely constitute informed discussion.

Students who acquire six or more unexcused absences will receive a failing grade.

Grading:

A: 100-94

A-: 93-90

B+: 89-88

B: 87-83

B-: 82-80

C+ 79-78

C: 77-73

C-: 72-70

D+: 69-68

D: 67-63

D-: 62-60

F: 59-0

Your grade in this course will be based on:

Participation, Attendance &In-class Assignments 10%

Everyday Surveillance Assignment 15%

Film Review 15%

Mid-Term Test: 20%

Social Media Project: 20%

Final Test 20%

Final grades will be determined on the basis of the above rubric. To ensure fairness, all numbers are absolute, and will not be rounded up or down at any stage. Thus a B- will be inclusive of all scores of 80.000 through 83.999. The University does not recognize the grade of A+.

Attendance and Informed Participation

Students who acquire six or more unexcused absences will receive a failing grade.

Please note that this is an upper level undergraduate seminar and your success in this course depends on close reading and engagement with the texts (readings, films, audio recordings, videoclips, video games and weblinks posted to Blackboard), as well as active participation in class discussions. You will be responsible for checking the Blackboard course site regularly for additional texts and announcements.

Class participation will be based on attendance and meaningful participation in class discussions.

Meaningful participation is taken to be analytic engagement with the texts, not vague commentary or generalizations. You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the readings.

Over the course of the semester you will be ask to respond, in writing, to texts discussed during the lecture.

These assignments will form a part of your participation grade.

AFR 374E • Race, Culture, And Migration

This course will provide an overview of theories in the emerging field of Surveillance Studies, with a focus on race, gender, power. We will examine transformations in social control and the distributions of power in U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on populations within the African diaspora. As such, this is a Black Studies course.

Course topics include: the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons and punishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television watching; the Internet; airports and state borders; biometrics and the body.

AFR 372C • Race, Gender, And Surveillance

This course will provide an overview of theories in the emerging field of Surveillance Studies, with afocus on race and gender. We will examine transformations in social control and the distributions ofpower in U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on populations within the African diaspora. As such,this is a Black Studies course. Course topics include: the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons andpunishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television watching; social media; travel and stateborders; biometrics and the body.

Students will be encouraged to develop critical reading and analytical skills. Through the use of filmsand other visual media students will be challenged to better understand how surveillance practicesinform modern life.

Your participation grade will be based upon your informed participation and not solely on yourattendance. You are expected to contribute informed opinions based on a close reading of the coursematerials and engagement with the themes of the course. Sharing your personal opinions, whileimportant, will not solely constitute informed discussion.

Students who acquire six or more unexcused absences will receive a failing grade.

GRADING SCHEME

A: 100-94

A-: 93-90

B+: 89-88

B: 87-83

B-: 82-80

C+ 79-78

C: 77-73

C-: 72-70

D+: 69-68

D: 67-63

D-: 62-60

F: 59-0

Your grade in this course will be based on:

Participation, Attendance &In-class Assignments 10%

Everyday Surveillance Assignment 15%

Film Review 15%

Mid-Term Test: 20%

Social Media Project: 20%

Final Test 20%

Final grades will be determined on the basis of the above rubric. To ensure fairness, all numbers are absolute, and will not be rounded up or down at any stage. Thus a B- will be inclusive of all scores of 80.000 through 83.999. The University does not recognize the grade of A+.

Attendance and Informed Participation

Students who acquire six or more unexcused absences will receive a failing grade.

Please note that this is an upper level undergraduate seminar and your success in this course depends on close reading and engagement with the texts (readings, films, audio recordings, videoclips, video games and weblinks posted to Blackboard), as well as active participation in class discussions. You will be responsible for checking the Blackboard course site regularly for additional texts and announcements.

Class participation will be based on attendance and meaningful participation in class discussions.

Meaningful participation is taken to be analytic engagement with the texts, not vague commentary or generalizations. You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the readings.

Over the course of the semester you will be ask to respond, in writing, to texts discussed during the lecture.

These assignments will form a part of your participation grade.

AFR 381 • Race And The Body

This course will engage with theories and research methodologies in the sociological study of the body, with a focus on race, racism, gender and sexualities. Emphasis will be placed on close reading of the assigned texts so that discussion can focus on key issues and debates concerning the body in contemporary society, including: the role of space and location; theories of the subject and the meaning of subjectivity; state formation and social control. Objectives

Through the completion of written assignments and active seminar participation and preparation, students will develop an understanding of the language and conceptual tools necessary to interrogate the practices through which we come to be variously raced, gendered and abled. Students will be encouraged to raise their research concerns in the seminar and we will actively contribute to each other’s questions of interest and research design.

AFR 372C • Race, Gender, And Surveillance

This course is focused on mobility, with immigration being only one such form of movement. We will examine the notion of 'mobility' by exploring historical and contemporary movements of people, capital and ideas. We will review theoretical developments in the sociological study of 'race', examine processes of racialization and cultural texts to better understand the ways in which identities are socially produced. Throughout, attention will be placed on forms of black cultural production and political action to question how such practices are shaped by migrations within the African diaspora.

Grading Policy

Midterm (definitions and essay) 20%

Class participation 10%

Two case studies 20%

Abstract (250 words) with bibliography 10%

Essay (10-12 pages) 30%

Group presentation 10%

Texts

The required text will be a packet of articles. Exerpts will be taken from the following books:

Les Back and John Solomos, editors, Theories of Race and Racism: A Reader, Routledge Readers in Sociology, London: Routledge, 2000

Vivien Burr, An Introduction to Social Construction, London: Routledge, 1995

AFR 374E • Race, Culture, And Migration

Note: 322V and SOC 321K Surveillance and Social Control cannot both be countes.

This course will provide an overview of theories in the emerging field of Surveillance Studies, with a focus on race, gender, power. We will examine transformations in social control and the distributions of power in U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on populations within the African diaspora. As such, this is a Black Studies course.

Course topics include: the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons and punishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television watching; the Internet; airports and state borders; biometrics and the body.

Students will be encouraged to develop critical reading and analytical skills. Through the use of films, the Internet and other visual media, students will be challenged to better understand how surveillance practices inform modern life.

Students who acquire six or more unexcused absences will receive a failing grade.

Your participation grade will be based upon your informed participation and not solely on your attendance. You are expected to contribute informed opinions based on a close reading of the assigned materials and engagement with the themes of the course. Sharing your personal opinions, while important, will not solely constitute informed discussion.

Required Texts:

Christian Parenti. 2003. The Soft Cage: Surveillance in America From Slave Passes to the War on Terror. New York: Basic Books.

All other required readings will be available for purchase as a course kit.

AFR 372C • Race, Gender, And Surveillance

Note: 322V and SOC 321K Surveillance and Social Control cannot both be countes.

This course will provide an overview of theories in the emerging field of Surveillance Studies, with a focus on race, gender, power. We will examine transformations in social control and the distributions of power in U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on populations within the African diaspora. As such, this is a Black Studies course.

Course topics include: the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons and punishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television watching; the Internet; airports and state borders; biometrics and the body.

Students will be encouraged to develop critical reading and analytical skills. Through the use of films, the Internet and other visual media, students will be challenged to better understand how surveillance practices inform modern life.

Students who acquire six or more unexcused absences will receive a failing grade.

Your participation grade will be based upon your informed participation and not solely on your attendance. You are expected to contribute informed opinions based on a close reading of the assigned materials and engagement with the themes of the course. Sharing your personal opinions, while important, will not solely constitute informed discussion.

Required Texts:

Christian Parenti. 2003. The Soft Cage: Surveillance in America From Slave Passes to the War on Terror. New York: Basic Books.

All other required readings will be available for purchase as a course kit.

Grading Policy:

Participation and Journal: 20%

Mid-Term Test: 25%

Research Project: 20%

Film Review 15%

Final Test: 20%

AFR 381 • Race And The Body

This course will engage with theories and research methodologies in the sociological study of the body, with a focus on race, racism, gender and sexualities. Emphasis will be placed on close reading of the assigned texts so that discussion can focus on key issues and debates concerning the body in contemporary society, including: the role of space and location; theories of the subject and the meaning of subjectivity; state formation and social control. Objectives

Through the completion of written assignments and active seminar participation and preparation, students will develop an understanding of the language and conceptual tools necessary to interrogate the practices through which we come to be variously raced, gendered and abled. Students will be encouraged to raise their research concerns in the seminar and we will actively contribute to each other’s questions of interest and research design.Grading and Requirements

AFR 374E • Race, Culture, And Migration

This course is focused on mobility, with immigration being only one such form of movement. We will examine the notion of 'mobility' by exploring historical and contemporary movements of people, capital and ideas. We will review theoretical developments in the sociological study of 'race', examine processes of racialization and cultural texts to better understand the ways in which identities are socially produced. Throughout, attention will be placed on forms of black cultural production and political action to question how such practices are shaped by migrations within the African diaspora.

Grading Policy

Midterm (definitions and essay) 20%

Class participation 10%

Two case studies 20%

Abstract (250 words) with bibliography 10%

Essay (10-12 pages) 30%

Group presentation 10%

Texts

The required text will be a packet of articles. Exerpts will be taken from the following books:

Les Back and John Solomos, editors, Theories of Race and Racism: A Reader, Routledge Readers in Sociology, London: Routledge, 2000

Vivien Burr, An Introduction to Social Construction, London: Routledge, 1995

AFR 374D • The Wire: Inequality/City Life

In this course the television series The Wire serves as an entry point from which students will engage sociological theory and writings on city life. We will examine the interlocking workings of race, gender, schooling, economic restructuring, surveillance, policing and incarceration in the making of socio-spatial inequalities. Students will be encouraged to develop critical reading, viewing and analytical skills. Throughout the course we will question how popular and visual texts shape perceptions of urban inequalities.

Students are expected to work with peers on in-class and on-line writing activities, lead class discussions and offer informed opinions based on a close reading of the course materials and engagement with the themes of the course.

This course meets the Writing Flag Requirement.

Grading Policy

Final Essay 40%

Book Review 20%

Episode Critical Analysis (2 -10% each) 20%

Discussion Leader 0%

Article Reflecrtion (2-10% each) 20%

SOC 395L • Race And The Body

This course will engage with theories and research methodologies in the sociological study of the body, with a focus on race, racism, gender and sexualities. Emphasis will be placed on close reading of the assigned texts so that discussion can focus on key issues and debates concerning the body in contemporary society, including: the role of space and location; theories of the subject and the meaning of subjectivity; state formation and social control.

Objectives

Through the completion of written assignments and active seminar participation and preparation, students will develop an understanding of the language and conceptual tools necessary to interrogate the practices through which we come to be variously raced, gendered and abled. Students will be encouraged to raise their research concerns in the seminar and we will actively contribute to each other’s questions of interest and research design.

AFR 374E • Race, Culture, And Migration

This course is focused on mobility, with immigration being only one such form of movement. We will examine the notion of 'mobility' by exploring historical and contemporary movements of people, capital and ideas. We will review theoretical developments in the sociological study of 'race', examine processes of racialization and cultural texts to better understand the ways in which identities are socially produced. Throughout, attention will be placed on forms of black cultural production and political action to question how such practices are shaped by migrations within the African diaspora.

AFR 374E • Surveillance & Social Control

COURSE DESCRIPTIONThis course will provide an overview of theories in surveillance studies, with a focus on race, gender, power, ethics and surveillance. We will examine historical transformations in social control and the distributions of power in U.S. and global contexts, with a focus on populations within the African diaspora. Course topics include: the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons and punishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television watching; the Internet; travel and state borders; biometrics and the body.

Students will be encouraged to develop critical reading and analytical skills. Through the use of films, the Internet and other visual media, students will be challenged to better understand how surveillance practices inform modern life.

Your participation grade will be based upon your informed participation and not solely on your attendance. You are expected to contribute informed opinions based on a close reading of the course materials and engagement with the themes of the course. Sharing your personal opinions, while important, will not solely constitute informed discussion.

This course is cross-listed with African and African American Studies and Women and Gender Studies.

Possible Texts:

Shoshana Magnet and Kelly Gates (eds.). 2009. The New Media of Surveillance. New York: Routledge

All other required readings can be downloaded from the course Blackboard site or accessed through the UT Libraries e-reserve system.

WGS 393 • Race And The Body

47305 • Fall 2010
Meets TH 12:00PM-3:00PM JES A230

Interdisciplinary topics relating to Women's and Gender Studies. Seats restricted to WGS MA and Portfolio students during early registration. Check cross-listings for home departments and originating field of study.

WGS 393 • Race And The Body

48135 • Spring 2009
Meets M 12:00PM-3:00PM BUR 214

Interdisciplinary topics relating to Women's and Gender Studies. Seats restricted to WGS MA and Portfolio students during early registration. Check cross-listings for home departments and originating field of study.